Chef Avishar Barua Opens His A lot-Anticipated Dwell Fireplace Restaurant Agni

Following intently on the heels of opening his Worthington spot Joya’s Cafe, chef Avishar Barua debuts his newest restaurant Agni this week! Named for the Hindu god of fireplace, Agni is centered round live-fire cooking, which implies a lot of smoking, grilling, and in any other case enjoyable with fireplace.

Agni takes up residence within the former South Excessive Avenue area of Ambrose & Eve, which sadly closed in the course of the pandemic. The constructing has been given a rework that retains the identical basic structure and homey touches of the earlier tenant.

All all through you’ll discover nods to Avishar’s Bengali and Midwestern heritage, imbued with the sense of playfulness that comes by in his cooking.

The beverage menu options wines by the glass and bottle and a group of cocktails which might be enjoyable updates to traditional libations. Pictured listed below are the Cubra Libre and Jack + Coke.

The Jack + Coke, as an example, takes its two namesake elements and provides in a little bit of tamarind and a contact of smoke.

I’m not going to explain every little thing that’s on the menu, as a result of it’s going to absolutely change over time. However it’s at the moment structured as a tasting menu. Every spot in your reservation will get a number of programs, with little surprises and additions alongside the best way.

However suffice it to say that we love consuming Avishar’s meals, from his adventures way back at Veritas in Delaware to his time main the kitchen at Service Bar, to Joya’s Cafe, which we have now to actively resist visiting daily.

Through the family and friends preview, we managed to say hello to the chef, who kindly risked scorching himself by posing in entrance of the new grill.

Dwell-fire cooking like that is taking off in Columbus, with locations like FYR on the Hilton Tower, Nomad at Polaris, and the forthcoming Hiraeth from the house owners of Chapman’s. These specialised grills include moveable cabinets so cooks can smoke, sear, grill, and extra.

Agni incorporates a small chef’s desk that faces the grill. It would absolutely be a tough seat to guide, though be suggested that the grill places off loads of warmth.

As you stroll down the hallway to the again of the restaurant (and also you completely ought to take a look at the murals within the loos), you’ll see down into the kitchen.

Once more, I received’t describe every little thing right here, however you’ll be able to relaxation assured there’s loads to experience, with dishes that begin out acquainted however take shocking or creative turns.

And naturally you’ll discover with some superb dessert that pulls on acquainted flavors if Avishar.

I’m positive you’ll be able to inform that even after one go to, we wholeheartedly advocate Agni. We’ve lengthy been followers of Avishar, so it was a simple promote, however after years of knocking it out of the park at native eating places, representing Columbus proudly on High Chef, doing superb stuff at Joya’s – he’s actually coming into his personal, and Columbus eating is all the higher for it.

(And when you’ve by no means been to Joya’s, you’ll be able to examine it right here, after which it’s essential to go to for a kati roll or fried rice or tacky double crunch or breakfast sandwich or all of it!)

Agni is at the moment open Wednesdays by Sundays, 5-11 p.m. Reservations could be booked by their website: dineatagni.com/reservations

Agni
716 S. Excessive St.
Columbus, OH 43206
Internet: dineatagni.com
IG: @dineatagni